The Prime Minister has directed the Planning Commission to focus on the needs of the disadvantaged while formulating and implementing various schemes and programmes. He said that special care need to be taken with regard to schemes especially for the tribal communities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the minorities.<br/><br/>The Prime Minister’s direction came during the course of the informal meeting with the Deputy Chairman and the members of the Planning Commission on Wednesday to review the overall economic situation and the status of various flagship schemes of the Government. <br/><br/>Dr Manmohan Singh also urged the members of the planning comission to interact intensively with the Central Ministries as well as the State Governments to steer policy changes in the right direction and speed up implementation. According to sources, the areas reviewed included agriculture , infrastructure, National Rural Health Mission, Science and Technology and environment issues as well as Reforms in higher education.